This week, two articles that have implications for the physical therapy profession caught my eye. The first article featured the Army’s first revamping of its basic training program in 30 years. According to the article, they’re “nixing five-mile runs and bayonet drills in favor of zigzag sprints and honing core muscles.” The second, a Newsweek story on “medicine we can live without,” discusses how the reining in of unnecessary procedures could save billions of health care dollars each year and improve the quality of care. Both articles underscore the importance of what we, as a profession, bring to the health care table. As we all know, physical therapists positively influence our patients’ overall health and wellness by providing services that positively impact physical fitness. Improving an individual’s level of physical fitness can prevent, improve, maintain or lower the risk of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities. It’s heartening that the Army is taking this new approach to help keep our soldiers healthy and prepared for their vitally important work. In addition, it’s satisfying to read in the Newsweek article that the medical community is recognizing that some common medical and surgical interventions are not always necessary and do not add to the quality care of patients. On the other hand, both articles also make it clear that we still have a long way to go. The basic training article notes that today’s recruits come from a more obese and sedentary generation and many “didn’t have physical education in elementary, middle or high school and therefore tend to lack bone and muscle strength.” This sounds to me like a call to action for the physical therapy profession. And while the Newsweek article underscores the value of conservative treatments over many expensive diagnostic tests and surgery, it also serves as food for thought for our own profession. How much of what we do is unnecessary or lacks evidence to support its usefulness in practice? Both articles provide great food for thought. I’d love to hear yours.

Original Source of Getting Back to Basics